President Megawati Soekarnoputri is considering elevating Indonesia's
diplomatic relations with East Timor and is seeking inputs from the House
of Representatives (DPR) on her plan.

"We've received a letter from the President seeking input from
legislators," House Commission I chairman Ibrahim Ambong said here on
Thursday. Commission I is in charge of, among other things, foreign
relations.

At present, Indonesia only has an Interest Section office in Dili, East
Timor -- Indonesia's former 27th province.

According to Ambong, there were pros and cons concerning the plan to
upgrade ties with East Timor.

In her letter, Megawati said she had been influenced by the fact that
many other countries had already established embassies in Dili.

Ambong said the countries included Japan, the United States, Britain,
Australia, and Malaysia.

He disclosed that legislators within the House's foreign commission
were divided on the issue.

"Due to strong pros and cons we will delay talks on this issue. We
want to hear from the Minister of Foreign Affairs Hasan Wirajuda
first," Ambong added.

East Timor seceded from Indonesia in August 1999 after a United
Nations- organized ballot showed a landslide victory for the
pro-independence group.

However, then pro-Jakarta militias -- backed by certain military
personnel -- vented out their anger by launching bloody rampage across the
former Portuguese colony, laying to waste almost 80 percent of the
infrastructure there.

Some military and police personnel, former government officials, and
militia leaders were brought to trial but most of them were acquitted.